Substituted dioxanes



Patented Apr. 1, 1947 FEE 2,413,297 7 sossrrrorso aromas Frederic A. French and Lynwootl N. Whitehill, Berkeley, (Jalii, assignors to Shell Development Company, San Franclscmflalifi; a cor-J poration of Delaware No Drawing. Application January 4, 19M,

SerialNo. 516,980

8 filaims.

This invention relates to new and useful substltuterl dioxanes of the formula B2C/ La wherein X is a member of the group consisting ofthe halogen atoms and the --GR group, and Y is a member of the group consisting of the hydrogen atom, the -CH2OH group, a --CH2OR roup and a CHgI-Ial group, R representing a hydrocarbon radical such as the alkyl, allrenyl, aryl, alkaryl, alkenaryl, arallrenyl, aralkyl, and alicyclic radicals, e. g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl,

n-b utyl, isobutyl, pentyl, vinyl, allyl, methallyl, butcnyl, pentenyl, henzyl, phenyl, p-Xylyl, cinnamyl, cyclopentyl, cyclopentenyl, eyelohexyl, cyclohexenyl, isophoryl, hexadienyl, and the like and their homologues, and Hal representing a halogen atom. The halogen atom represented by the above radicals is preferably selected from. the group consisting of chlorine, bromine and iodine.

An object of the invention is to provide new s bstituted dioxanes or the above formula 'which have value as solvents, diluentamodifying agents, plasticizers, in insecticides, processing reagents R representing a hydrocarbon radical such as the allryl, alkenyl, aryl, alkaryl, alkenaryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, and allcyclic radicals, e. g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, lsopropyl, nbutyl,' isobutyl, pentyl, vinyl, ailyl, methallyl, butcnyl, pentenyl, benzyl, phenyl, p-xyiyl, cinnamyl, cyclopentyl,

cyclopentenyl, cyclohexyl, cyclohexenyl, isophoryl, hexadienyl, and the like, and their homo-o logues, and Hal representing a halogen atom.

The halogen atom represented by the above rad- V icals is preferably chlorine, bromine or iodine. Examples of suitablestarting materials include the oisubstituted monohalohydrin ethers of alpha beta diglycerol corresponding to the formula 'OH GHQ-Hal s c-cE,-oH-cHr-o-on-cm-o+1z such as alpha beta diglycerol gamma gammadimethyl alpha'-monochlorohydrin ether, alpha beta'-dig1ycerol gamma gamma-methyl alphamonochlorohydrin ether, alpha beta'-diglycerol gamma gamma'-dipropy1 alpha monohromohydrin ether, alpha beta'-dlglycerol gammamethyl gamma'-isopropyl alpha-monobromohydrin ether, alpha beta cliglycerol gamma gamma-divinyl alpha'-monochlorohydrin ether,

in the textile industry, intermediates in organic syntheses, etc. These dioxanes are particularly suitable as solvents; for example, as solvents for cellulose esters which are used in the silk and varnish industries. The halogen substituted dioxanes are especially useful as solvents. Novel clioxanes of the pro er boiling point range are of value for use as solvents for lacquers and as plastlomors, tor example, for celluloseethers and esters.

OH Y

X'-C JllCH-O-C 3IiCH -Hal wherein X is a member of the group consisting of the hydrogen atom and a -CH2OR group, Y is a member of the group consisting of the hydrogtn atom, the --CH2OH group, a CH2OR group and a --CH2Hal group, except that when X is hydrogen, Y cannot be hydrogen or CHzOH,

'Lllltl hovel alloxy substituted dioxanes may be readily polymerized to form tough resist diglycerol alpha beta-diglycerol gamma gamma diallyl alpha'-monoch1orohydrin ether, alpha 'beta' gamma gamma-diphe nyl alpha:- monochlorohydrin ether and the like andthelr homologues which will produce 2,5-dl-substituted-Ledioxanesj the glycerol alpha-substifluted gamma-(fieta-halcethyl) others corre sp ondingto theformula such as glycerol alpha-methyl gamma-(betachlcroethyll ether, glycerol alpha-ethyl gamma- (heta-chloroethyll ether, glycerol alpha-vinyl gamma- (heta-chloroetl'lyl) ether, glycerol alphaallrl gamma(beta-bromoethyl) ether, glycerol alpha methallyl gamma (beta-- chloroethyl) other, lycerol alpha-benzyl gamma-metalwoethyl) ether, andthe like and their homologues which produce Z-substituted-1,4-dioxanes; and the dihalohyclrin ethers corresponding to the formula wherein X is a hydrogen atom or CH2OR, R. representing a hydrocarbon radical, and Hal represents a halogen atom, such as glycerol alpha gamma-dichlorohydrin beta-hydroxyethyl ether (when X is the hydrogen atom), alpha betadiglycerol gamma-methyl alpha gamma-dichlorohydrin ether (when X is -CH-.--O-CH 1) alpha beta diglycerol gamma allyl alpha" gamma'-dichlorohydrin ether (when X is -CHa-O-C3Hs) and the like and their homologues which will produce 2-halomethyl-L4-dioxanes and 2-substituted 5-halomethyl-1,4-dioxanes.

These starting materials may be prepared by any suitable means such as by reacting an epoxy compound with a monoor di-halohydrin. For

example: alpha beta'-diglycerol gamma gamma- --diallyl alpha'-monochlorohydrin ether may be prepared by reacting glycerol alpha-monochlorohydrin gamma-allyl ether with glycidyl allyl ether in the presence of stannic chloride; glycerol alpha-ethyl gammabeta-chloroethyl) ether may be prepared by reacting glycidyl ethyl ether with ethylene ohlorohydrin in the presence 0! stannic chloride; a dihalohydrin ether may be prepared by reacting an epihalohydrin with a halohydrin.

droxide, it has been found that for superior results the temperature should be above about 70 C.

Any caustic alkali solution of sufficient strength may be chosen. Sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide have been found to produce satisfactory results; other suitable alkalis include calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, the carbonates, e. g, potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate, etc. The exact concentration most suitable for a specific case would of a necessity depend upon the specific organic reactant chosen and, to some extent, upon the solvent chosen and they solubility of the alkali therein. In the case of the formation of Z-(ethoxymthyD-lA-dioxane from glycerol alpha-ethyl gamma-(beta-chloroethyl) ether, a solution of potassium hydroxide in isopropyl alcohol of about 2N strength was sufficient; while an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide of a strength above about 7N was necessary for the production of 2,5- di(alloxymethyl) -1,4-dioxane from diglycerol diallyl monochlorohydrin ether.

l The solvent which may be used for the alkali should be substantially inert to the reactants and products under the conditlonsof the reaction, and may be water or any of the lower alcohols below about C5. e. g., ethanol, isopropyl alcohol,

"n-propanol, butanol, etc.

Any suitable type container heated by any convenient means may be used, andthe reaction takes place preferably at about atmospheric pressure, although in some cases superatmospheric pressures may be deemed desirable.

Other suitable processes may be employed in the production of the new dioxanes of this invention. For example, the corresponding dihydroxy compounds,

, on a x-onron-cnz-o-pikomoa may be reacted under proper dehydration con- 4 catalyst to produce these new dioxanes: or some of the dioxanes may be prepared by the dimerization of the corresponding epoxy ethers,

mc on-om-o-a chi- 013 This dlmerization may take place in the presence of a suitable catalyst, for example, acid catalysts or a boronfluoride etherate.

The halogen-substituted dioxanes may be bydrolyzed under appropriate conditions to form the corresponding hydroxy-substituted diox anes; for example, 2-ethoxymethyl 5-chloromethyl-1,4-dioxane may be hydrolyzed to obtain 2-ethoxymethy1 5 hydroxymethyl-1,4-dioxane, and 2,5-di(hydroxymethyl)-1,4-dioxane may be prepared by hydrolysis of 2-chloromethyl 5-hydroxymethyl-1,4-dioxane, etc.

2,5-di(hydroxymethyl)-1,4-dioxane may also be prepared by reacting alpha beta'-diglycerol alpha-monochlorohydrin in a hot alkali solution.

The following examples are given to illustrate the preparation of three of these new dioxanes.

Example I About 56 parts by weight of potassium hydroxide were dissolved in about 395' parts by weight of boiling isopropyl alcohol, and about 91 parts by weight of glycerol alpha-ethyl gamma- (beta-chloroethyl) ether were added to the boillng solution over approximately a one-hour pcriod. Potassium chloride precipitated immediately. Heating was continued for about one hour and the reaction mixture was cooled, neutralized with hydrochloric acid and distilled. A yield of about 95 per cent of material based on the glycerol ether charged was obtained. The 2- ethoxymethyl-L'l-dioxane has a boiling point 0!. C. to 81.1 C. at 20 mm. pressure and. has the following physical properties:

n-20/D 1.4325 D-20/4 1.0150

Example [I About parts by weight of sodium hydroxide were heated in about 510 parts of isopropyl alcohol at about 80 C. until solution occurred. To the refluxing solution, about 200 parts of alpha beta'-diglycerol gamma gamma'-diallyl alphamonochlorohydrin ether were added over approximately a two-hour period. After refluxing the solution, it was then neutralized with concentrated HCl, filtered and the filtrate washed with isopropyl alcohol and distilled. About 145 parts of material boiling at 94 C. to 108 C. at 1 mm. were obtained, corresponding to a conversion of about 85% based on the diglycerol ether charged. The boiling point of the pure 2,5-dialloxyrnethyl-l,4-dioxane is 112 C. at 2 mm. pressure and has the following physical properties:

Example III About 56 parts by weight of potassium hydroxide were dissolved in about 390 parts by weight of isopropyl alcohol at about 82 C., and about 120 parts by weight of alpha beta-diglycerol alpha gamma'-dichlorohydrin gammaethyl ether were added over about a two-hour period. The mixture was heated to about 75 C, for approximately five hours, then neutralized with concentrated HCl, filtered, and distilled. About 48 parts by weight of Z-chloromethyl 5-ethoxymethyl-1,4-dioxane product distilled at 86 C. to 98 C. at 3 mm, pressure.

Other novel substituted dioxanes which may be prepared according to the methods of the above examples, or by obvious modifications thereof with proper choice of starting material, include 2-methoxymethyl-lA-dioxane, 2 alloxymethyl- 1,4 dioxane, 2 vinyloxymethyl 1,4 dioxane, 2 propoxymethyl 1,4 dioxane, 2 phenyl oxymethyl 1,4 dioxane, 2,5 di(ethoxymethyl) -'1,4 dioxane, 2,5 di(methalloxymethyl) 1,4 dioxane, 2,5 (benzyloxymethyl) 1,4 dloxane, and the like and their homologues.

We claim as our invention:

1. A chemical compound of the formula wherein R1 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing at least one olefinic ,linkage, and Y is a member of the group consisting of the hydrogen atom. the CH2OH group. the --CH2OR group and the -CH2Hal group, 1?. representing a hydrocarbon radical and Hal representing a halogen atom.

2. A chemical compound of the formula mo cn-cm-o-a, Y-H m wherein R2 represents a hydrocarbon radical containing an oleflnic linkage between two carbon atoms of aliphatic character one of which is linked directly by a single bond to a saturated carbon atom which is directly attached to the oxygen atom, and wherein Y is a member of the group consisting of the hydrogen atom, the,

-CH2OH group, the -CH2OR group andthe -CHzHal group. R representing a hydrocarbon radical and Hal representing a halogen atom.

3. A chemical compound of the formula wherein R represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing at least one oieflnic linkage.

5 Ia-o-om-on H 4. A chemical compound of the formula wherein R2 represents an unsaturated hydrocarbon radical containing anolefinic linkage be- 10 tween two carbon atoms of aliphatic character one of which is linked directly by a single bond to a saturated carbon atom which is directly attached to the oxygen atom. 5. A chemical compound of the formula 0 HSC/ \CH-CH:-O-R2 HalCHr-H H:

wherein Hal represents a halogen atom and R2 is a hydrocarbon radical containing an olefinic linkage between two carbon atoms of aliphatic character one of which is directly linked to a saturated carbon atom which is directly attached to the oxygen atom.

6. A chemical compound of the. formula mo on-o m-o-n,

Boom-H E,

35. wherein R2 is a hydrocarbon radical containing an olefinic linkage between two carbon atoms of aliphatic character one of which is directly linked to a saturated carbon atom which is attached directly to'the oxygen atom.

40 7. A chemical compound of the formula 11.0 CH-CH:O--CH;CH=CH,

HGICHr-H wherein Hal represents a halogen atom.

8. 2,5-di(a1loxymethyl) -1,4-dioxane.

' FREDERIC A. FRENCH.

LYNWOOD N. WHITEHILL.

REFERENCES crran The following references are ot record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Journal American Chemical Society, volume 23 (1929), page 2697.

An Outline of Organic Chemistry, 4th edition by Degering 1945, Barnes 81 Noble. 1110.. pa es 

